Tractor Cycle color

[cobraman]

Sorry if this is in the wrong area but I can not find any info on this machine . Photos yes but not any in color . Does anyone here have any idea what color this thing is ? Again sorry if it does not belong here . Thanks . 

[espo]

No idea what color it is, but I want one. I think it might be a light shade of gray or silver, I don't think it would be white. 

[stitchdup]

By the sounds of the articles I've found it was a french military test. I would assume it to be khaki or sand coloured. heres some articles on it

http://motos-of-war.ru/en/motorcycles/moto-chenille-mercier/

 

thers one on reddit too but i cant seem to link it but a google image search for tracked motorcyle will bring it up as one of the top results.

[cobraman]

Thanks guys. I have a resin kit but I am holding off on it hoping I can discover what color it was. My wife was guessing white and I was thinking a light gray. ???

[espo]

1 hour ago, cobraman said:

Thanks guys. I have a resin kit but I am holding off on it hoping I can discover what color it was. My wife was guessing white and I was thinking a light gray. ???

Based on the information from Stitchdup you might want to consider something in the Desert Storm color palette since it seems to have a military back ground.  

[cobraman]

Possible. It does seem to be a light color. So little info guess I can paint it just about any color.

[Ctmodeler]

Kinda looks like it should be yellow like heavy equipment . But the good thing about modeling is that it can be whatever color you want it or think it should be ! No judging here lol ?

[cobraman]

The above is true but since I believe there was just one built I really waned to paint it the correct color. I have exhausted all ideas I had to try and find out so I guess I am on my own to guess. I guess nobody around will be able to say I am wrong. ?

[espo]

12 minutes ago, cobraman said:

The above is true but since I believe there was just one built I really waned to paint it the correct color. I have exhausted all ideas I had to try and find out so I guess I am on my own to guess. I guess nobody around will be able to say I am wrong. ?

Since it was a Prototype maybe it wasn't painted at all. Could be bare steel or some sort of primer. I understand you're wanting to get this correct so I wish well in your investigation of the color.  

[afx]

The artist rendering referenced in the article.

Edited April 4, 2020 by afx

[NOBLNG]

How in the world would you steer that thing?

Oh...”Steering is accomplished by handlebars which control a sideways motion of the drive belt.”

You’re not doing any slalom courses with that!

Edited April 4, 2020 by NOBLNG

[TarheelRick]

That looks to be quite unstable to me.  I can imagine the effects the recoil from that machine gun would have on it, especially if it is at an angle from straight ahead.

[cobraman]

Maybe I will do it in steel and put a machine gun on it !

[misterNNL]

If no one knows( including you) what color this one of one vehicle was  painted then paint it what ever you darn well please and who'll know the difference? That's right.....no one!

[cobraman]

That is what I have to do Tom. I am leaning towards a light grey or a steel or a tan.

[crazyjim]

I'd go with purple, but that's me.

[cobraman]

Purple ? Ya, I don't think so Jim. ?

[peteski]

Everything shown so far indicates a light color.  Artist's color rendering seems to show dull silver (natural metal?).  B/W photos show light color.  Personally I would like a pastel (light) yellow, but white, light gray/silver would not be too far off.

 

I also have an out-of-the-box idea: paint  it using one of those color changing paints.

Edited April 7, 2020 by peteski

[stavanzer]

I'd go with a pale grey, myself. That would fit the common colour palette for equipment back then.

[cobraman]

That sounds like a good plan.